Session 8, Psalm 119:138, part 1 of 2
Several weeks ago I posted a study on Psalm 119:137 titled ‘Unwavering and Upright’. This marked the beginning of the eighteenth section of Psalm 119. Verse 137 says, Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy judgments.
God is righteous.
His very character is righteous. God will not act outside of His character. Therefore He is the embodiment of all that is right and good. God represents perfect righteousness.
Ps 71:19 For Thy righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, Thou who hast done great things; O God, who is like Thee?
God’s judgments are upright.
Because God is righteous, His judgments are equitable. He sees everything exactly as it truly is. His judgment is without favoritism or deception. It is perfectly fair. There is no room for questioning or deliberation.
De 32:4 "The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
The Hebrew letter that begins each of the eight verses in Psalm 119: 137- 144, is TZADDI which is translated ‘purity’. Keep in mind the purity of God as we continue on to 138.
Ps 119:138 Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
1. God has commanded His word to us.
2. God has commanded His word to us in righteousness.
3. God has commanded His word to us in exceeding faithfulness. (this will be included in part 2)
God has commanded His word to us. This means we have been given a charge or have been appointed to receive God’s testimony. There is great responsibility on our part in accepting this gift. Imagine being entrusted with something that has great value. What do you do with it? How do you treat it?
To be given a charge means we have been assigned a duty, we have a responsibility or an obligation to do something. God’s testimonies include all He has given to us in His word. The examples, the commands, the warnings, the encouragements, the judgments, the expectations, the hope – these are all God’s witness to us of who He is and what we are to follow. This charge or command to His children is a treasure – not hidden to find as if hunting for something valuable and unseen – but written for us to understand with the help of His Spirit and practice in His strength.
A command from God is not a question, it is an order. His children are instructed to obey His commands. De 13:4 "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
Consider who God is. The one and only true King. Isa 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. When a king makes a decree to his subjects, there is no question whether it will be obeyed. In the same way, God’s chosen are not to question or think that there is a choice in following His will.
Ps 51:5-6 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.
Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
God has commanded His word to us in righteousness. God’s character is absolutely one hundred percent morally right. There is not one once of wrong or sin or unjust way or thought or decree in God’s being. Only God can claim absolute righteousness. And He has given His witness in all righteousness; meaning His word is right, it is pure, and it is equitable. Is there any other who is able to state a testimony of unequivocal righteousness?
God’s righteousness demands our obedience. He is worthy of our praise. Praise is our offering up of ourselves to God. Ro 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. What does this practically look like in our lives? “We cannot confess God to be righteous unless we live uprightly and truly as he has commanded”. 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Consider. How can our lives give glory to God? In order to live a life that offers praise to an all-holy God, we need to know who He is and what He requires of us. Consider the steps we take to become good or proficient at something. It takes time and practice to acquire a skill. Action is required to gain knowledge of something and to develop a good understanding of it. How strong is your desire to know God? What actions are you taking to improve your understanding of His word?
